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The Cyprus Presidency presented yesterday the organisation of work regarding the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This was communicated during the first meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER II) that took place yesterday in Brussels. The aim of the Presidency is to fulfill the mandate given by the June European Council 2012, of reaching an agreement on the issue by the end of 2012. To achieve this, the Negotiating Box will be further developed, while the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” will be respected at all times.

During the COREPER meeting, Cyprus Permanent Representative Ambassador K. Korneliou noted that the Presidency will work closely with the President of the European Council, as well as with the European Parliament and the European Commission, to facilitate a common understanding leading to the timely adoption of the relevant decisions.

Ambassador Korneliou reassured that “the work of the Cyprus Presidency will be directed towards finding the right balance opening the way for a final agreement”.

The Negotiation Box, a document drafted by the Danish Presidency last year after orientation debates with the member states, contains the central issues and options concerning expenditure and revenue.

Bilateral meetings will take place between the Presidency and Member States between July 10 and 19, in Brussels at a ministerial level. The meetings will be chaired by Deputy Minister of European Affairs Ambassador Mavroyiannis, with the participation of representatives from the Council Secretariat, the office of the President of the European Council and the Commission.

The Presidency will follow the organizational setup agreed in June 2011, with discussions on MFF taking place at COREPER II, the General Affairs Council, and also supported by the Friends of the Presidency Working group, where technical matters will be discussed. An Informal Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs will take place, in Lefkosia (Nicosia), on August 30, with the MFF constituting the sole issue of discussions.

As regards specific sectoral legislative proposals, the Cyprus Permanent Representative stated that the Presidency intends to continue, building on the basis of the excellent work accomplished by the Danish Presidency, to work through the partial general approach wherever possible, pending the vote of the European Parliament and leaving aside the financial and horizontal aspects of the proposals.